Torontos Board of Health will decide next week whether to explore a further clamping down on smoking in public places, including patios and sports fields.

On Monday the board will consider whether the citys medical officer of health should consult with key stakeholders on extending smoking restrictions. If the board gives its assent, a decision on further limits would not come before next year.

In 2009, the City surpassed the level of protection offered by the [Smoke-Free Ontario Act] by banning smoking near City playgrounds, wading pools, splash pads and in farms and zoos operated by Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division, the board of health notes in an agenda for next weeks meeting. Now, there is strong public interest and support for Toronto to join other Ontario municipalities in expanding [second-hand-smoke] protection to other outdoor spaces, including public building entranceways, bar and restaurant patios and hospital grounds.

A report cited by the board notes that adult smoking rates have dropped since 2001, but that about one in five young adults are still smoking.

Experts agree that tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide, including in Canada and that tobacco use and [second-hand-smoke] exposure remain important public health concerns, the report states.

In 2011 the board of health sought advice on ways to control tobacco use through expansions to existing smoke-free by-laws.

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City to consider expanding smoking bans in public places

Torontos Board of Health will decide next week whether to hold public consultations on extending the citys ban on places where you can smoke.

On Monday, the board will look at recommendations to ban smoking on uncovered restaurant patios, in public building entranceways, on hospital grounds and on sports fields.

If the board approves public consultations, a final decision on extending the ban could come next year.

The suggestion for extended smoking bans comes from a Toronto Public Health report released last month that urges action to prevent residents from second-hand smoke exposure.

Things have certainly moved forward in public opinion, and we now have a public that is much more sensitive to second-hand cigarette smoke, said Coun. John Filion, who chairs the board of health.

Its time to move the yardstick forward.

Despite existing regulations, 15 per cent of adult non-smokers in Toronto were exposed to second-hand smoke every day or almost every day, according to a 2010 survey cited in the report.

Smoking is already prohibited in indoor workplaces and public spaces, as well as within nine metres of playgrounds, wading pools and city zoos and farms.

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Smoking ban proposed for Toronto restaurant patios, sports fields

ST. PETERSBURG For about two years, the Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay has dropped by unannounced at several homes near Lake Maggiore.

He ate handouts, napped on patios, looked through windows. The neighbors and the monkey learned to get along.

But that sentiment changed Monday when the monkey bit a 60-year-old woman.

Now, most residents say, he needs to go.

"I hate to say this, but it was bound to happen," Jeffrey Seilbach said.

Wildlife officials think the biting incident occurred because some neighbors fed the monkey.

"When people choose to feed wildlife in their neighborhood, very often it's the neighbors that end up suffering the consequences," said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesman Gary Morse.

The monkey resides in an area of tall trees and overgrown bushes near Country Club Way S. When the branches rattle loudly, neighbors know he's there.

He also likes back yards.

At Seilbach's home, the monkey has climbed a tree and broken a screen around the pool. Seilbach won't take his cat outside.

Read more here:
Many residents say Mystery Monkey needs to go

The city wants to to make it easier for food trucks and sidewalk patios to operate in Edmonton.

Saylish Haas, a co-owner of The Next Act Pub and The Act food truck, says she would to move her truck more frequently and stay open past 11 p.m. to serve the crowds at closing time things that aren't allowed under current regulations.

Haas is encouraged by how the city is open to changing the rules, which could take effect next spring.

"We'll all meet and sit down and figure out what we want to do," she said. "Hopefully, we'll end up getting to move forward and be able to relocate and have a little bit more options that are siding towards the street vendors."

The rule change was prompted by a conflict earlier this year between the Drift food truck and a nearby sandwich shop.

Drift owners Nevin and Kara Fenske were asked to move from their location at 100th Avenue and 108th Street because the nearby Grandma Lee sandwich shop complained they were taking away business.

The Fenskes successfully appealed the city's order and city administration was asked to clarify the rules for food trucks

Food truck regulations aren't the only rules under review. The city plans to approach the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission about changing the rules for serving alcohol on outdoor patios.

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City wants to ease rules for food trucks and patios

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) -

A local pool company that's been the subject of dozens of complaints had its building license officially suspended Thursday.

Some 30 families said Premier Pools and Patios didn't provide efficient services.

In some cases, the company is accused of walking away from an unfinished project. In other cases, clients said the company built a pool that had to be redone and damaged property.

Those homeowners want the state board of licensing contractors to take away Premier's license, so they can never build in Tennessee again.

"I do not have a finished working pool. It's been almost a year, and a lot of things need to be redone," said a homeowner named Sam, who didn't want his last name used.

Sam is one of 16 who have filed an official complaint with the state.

The owner of the company, Anna Shanks, did not show up Thursday for a license suspension hearing. She listened in by conference call from her attorney's Nashville office.

Premier Pool attorney Steve Lefkovitz agreed to have his client surrender its building license as long as the word revocation was left out.

"Revocation does have connotations of wrongdoing," said Lefkovitz.

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Troubled pool company has license suspended

The 49-unit Clearview Apartments at 4000 North Main St. sold this summer for $3,420,000, nearly $1 million more than the last sale five years ago, according to city assessors.

The North End property consists of two three-level buildings of mostly two bedrooms and one bath, with air conditioning and patios or balconies overlooking the Taunton River.

The property was built in 1989 on 1 acres.

Tag Fall River Real Estate III LLC in Boston, a division of Waldorf Capital Management in Providence, took ownership on Aug. 31 from Clearwater Investments LLC, assessors said.

NAI Hunneman, the Boston firm representing the city for development of the new bio park, represented Clearwater, according to Banker & Tradesman.

The last sale to Clearwater Investments on Dec. 31, 2007 was for $2.5 million, following sales in 1999 for $1.89 million and in 1996 for $1.35 million, city records show.

The $3.42 million sale price would average roughly $70,000 per unit.

The property is assessed for $2.8 million, nearly $2 million for the buildings and the remainder for the land in an area of many apartment buildings and condominiums.

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Clearview Apartments in Fall River trades hands for $3.4 million

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San Rafael strengthened smoking laws on Monday.

San Rafael officials approved the county's toughest anti-tobacco ordinance to date on Monday, banning smoking from all apartments and condominiums, in addition to parks, bus stops, restaurant patios and many other outdoor spaces.

The measure is aimed at protecting people from secondhand smoke, officials said.

"What we are really considering is the impact of others," Mayor Gary Phillips said Monday before voting with his four city council colleagues to approve the ordinance.

The ordinance includes special restrictions for the downtown area, banning smoking from sidewalks and plazas except while smokers are "actively passing on the way to another destination."

The new rules are similar to those adopted by the city of Larkspur, the county Board of Supervisors and other Marin agencies. However, San Rafael is the first to ban smoking in all apartments and condos; others allow designation of some units for smoking.

In San Rafael, landlords, condo boards, employers, public event organizers and the city manager could still designate some outdoor smoking areas, with restrictions. The areas would have to be 20 feet away from places where smoking is banned and 100 feet away from children's areas or recreation areas such as playgrounds and swimming pools.

The San Rafael ordinance spells out some indoor areas where smoking would still be allowed including single-family houses, vehicles, up to 20 percent of hotel rooms and tobacco shops

Several members of the meeting spoke in favor of the ordinance at the city council's meeting Monday.

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San Rafael officials approve tough new smoking rules

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -

This is WBTV Community Web Producer Jessica. I'm on a mission tofind fun or quirky places on my lunch break, after work, on the weekends any time is a good time toaddsome seasonal spice to life.

October 1: the start of my "fall flavor" mission. I know fall started September 22, but it feels official now.

There are lots of reasons to be excited in October: the crisp fall air, leaves turning, hot apple cider on a cool night, patios that will soon be abandoned until springtime, Halloween looming ever closerand pumpkins.

Who doesn't love a good pumpkin patch?

Monday,I went by the Dilworth Pumpkin Patch. It's right at the corner of East Boulevard and Scott Avenuenext to Jersey Mike's, across from Brixx and catty-corner to Starbucks. (You can't miss it!)

The pumpkin patch has popped up around this time of year for the last four years. It's actually part of Holiday Trees, LLC, run by James Dixon. He's a banker in Charlotte by day, but he started his tree farm in college, and it stuck. The farm is just across the state line in Virginia and Dixon goes up there at least once a month to check on his farm.

Here's the really cool thing I learned while talking to Dixon: he doesn't just sell pumpkins and trees for a profit. He does a lot with local nonprofits donating the proceeds, helping them set up fundraisers, and using his farming gift as a helping hand for those in need. This year, he's working with several local churches, and Hoskins Park Ministries an organization that works to help homeless men in the Charlotte area. They are still firming up the details for their fundraising efforts this year, but I'll pass them on when I learn more.

I had fun wandering around the pumpkin patchin the chilly afternoon air- though it was difficult to stay away from the coffee just a few steps across the street. (I resisted!) There are oodles of pumpkins there, just begging to be taken home.

If you're looking for a fun excursion for the family or if you just need to get out of the office for a few minutes, the Dilworth Pumpkin Patch is worth it. Sure, you can pick up a pumpkin at the grocery store but why not make it an adventure instead?

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Seasonal Spice: Dilworth Pumpkin Patch

VICTORIA (NEWS1130) - Mayors and councillors from across the province are pushing for an expanded smoking ban in BC.

The resolution at the Union of BC Municipalities convention calls for a province-wide ban on smoking at beaches, parks, outdoor public events, and even patios.

It's something the Canadian Cancer Society has been pushing for for years. Kathryn Seely with the society says four other provinces have already a similar law in place.

"Particles in smoke don't disappear from the air until one is over seven metres away from the person who is smoking. So, there is a medical case to protect children and workers of bars and restaurants," she maintains.

"One is likely to smoke less and hopefully want to quit more [if] children don't see someone smoking and think that smoking is normal. So, it helps to denormalize smoking," adds Seely.

The resolution will now be sent to the BC government for consideration; the Canadian Cancer Society will continue to lobby province as well. Seely is hoping it will get on the agenda soon.

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UBCM delegates call for expanded smoking ban

Sam Morris

This is a bedroom in one of the MGM Grands remodeled suites Thursday, Sept. 27,2012.

By Ron Sylvester (contact)

Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012 | 3:09 p.m.

3799 Las Vegas Boulevard S., Las Vegas

After eight years of planning and a year of construction, the MGM Grand neared completion of a $160 million renovation with the unveiling of its Skyline Terrace Suites this afternoon.

The two-story suites go for $725 a night and include 780-square-foot patios overlooking the Las Vegas Strip.

Designers said glass staircases open up the suite for skyline views throughout the rooms, which also include large windows.

A sound system will play iPods and other personal entertainment devices throughout the suite, including in the shower.

Planning for the renovation began in 2004, but construction didnt begin until last year, said Tim Kelly, vice president of hotel operations for the MGM Grand. The project included remodeling 4,212 rooms at the megaresort.

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MGM Grand unveils $160 million room renovation in Las Vegas